California Dreaming - Promise Programs and College Affordability

California is one of the best places in the country to be a college student.  Although both tuition and housing prices are high, the state has shown a commitment to providing financial support to in-state students through the Cal Grant Program and expanding College Promise programs (which provide 1-2 years of tuition-free attendance at local community colleges) throughout the state.

Community College Promise Programs:

Many community colleges in California (including our own College of the Siskiyous) are offering promise programs that waive the tuition and fees for the first year or two for students in their local area. Some restrictions apply, so be sure to research the requirements at your specific community college.  In general, students must complete the FAFSA to be eligible.  

Perhaps the best part about these College Promise programs is not the financial aspect at all.  Generally, in addition to financial support, these programs offer increased counseling and advising services and student support.  Students participating in College Promise programs graduate and transfer to universities at higher rates than those who don't participate.

In fact, "free college" may be a little misleading.  The way these programs generally work is that the tuition and fees are taken from your awarded financial aid, and if there is a balance left over, it is waived.  So if you qualify for a Pell Grant or a Cal Grant B, it may not be any less expensive to go to a different community college, rather than the "free" local college, especially if you are not planning on living at home. However, if you can take advantage of the additional support provided by a college promise program (wherever you land), it could help you be successful.

Speaking of expenses, room and board are often the most expensive part of college costs.  If you are not planning on living at home, and if you qualify for a Cal Grant (see below), it may not in fact be any less expensive (once you consider ALL the college costs) to go to a community college than to go to a UC, CSU, or even a private college.  This is because the universities often have additional grant aid available to cover living expenses, while community colleges generally don't.  

Of course, there are many reasons you might want to start out at a community college, including smaller class sizes, more contact with professors, the ability to stay close to home, or specific programs at your community college, but if the main consideration is cost, and you are not planning on living at home, you may want to think again.

So what exactly is a Cal Grant, and how do you get one?

Some things to know about the Cal Grant:

• Cal Grants are free money (up to $12,294 per year) that you do not have to pay back.
• Cal Grants can be used at all UC, CSU, and community colleges, as well as many eligible private colleges and universities in California
• Cal Grants A and B will pay the full tuition at a University of California or California State University program, and up to $9,000 at certain eligible private institutions.
• When you complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or Dream Act application, if you include an eligible California school on your list of colleges, you will automatically be considered for a Cal Grant
• To be eligible, you must meet financial and academic criteria.  The Cal Grant A requires a 3.0 GPA; the Cal Grant B requires a 2.0 GPA (based on grades in 10th and 11th grade).  The income and asset limits can be found here.
• To be eligible, you must be a California resident or AB540 student.
  
• To be eligible, you must graduate from a California high school or be a California resident by the age of 18.
• You are guaranteed a Cal Grant award if you meet the eligibility requirements
• You are eligible to receive a Cal Grant award the year you graduate from high school, or the year after your graduation (if you don't go to college right away), and you are again eligible when you transfer from a community college to a 4-year university.
• The school will automatically submit your GPA to confirm eligibility the year your graduate, but may not do so the following year. If you take a gap year before attending college, ask your high school to submit your GPA to the California Student Aid Commission to verify eligibility. 
• You can talk to your school counselor to get more information about the Cal Grant.

If your family does not fall within the income and asset limits for the Cal Grant, you may still be eligible for the California Middle Class Scholarship, which will pay up to 40% of the tuition and fees at a University of California or California State University campus. Families with incomes up to about $150,000 may qualify for this award.

A final note on affordability:

A little known fact about college costs in California: in terms of net cost (what you actually pay after all grant and scholarship aid is factored in), the University of California system is, for most students, the best deal in California.

Yes, you read that correctly.  Many people do not realize this, but the UC system has very generous financial aid policies, and is committed to meeting the financial need of its students.  So even though most people think that UC schools are way more expensive than CSU or community colleges (and on paper it certainly looks that way - published tuition rates at the University of California are among the highest in the nation for public universities), once financial aid is factored in, it may actually be much less expensive than CSU or even a community college if you are not living at home (see above).

Every college website has a net price calculator.  Identify the colleges you are interested in and check for yourself. Compare the net prices before you rule out any schools based on cost.

And be glad you live in California. It is, by far, one of the most generous states in providing grants for low and middle income students to attend college.

Defining Your Goals

What are your goals for the new year?  Whether you're a senior in the midst of college and scholarship applications,  a sophomore or junior just starting your college search process, or a parent wondering how to motivate your child to do one of the above, some time spent this month setting and clarifying goals can help set you on the path to a bright future.

First, for those of you still in the college search process - with glossy ads, unsolicited advice from just about everyone, and a dizzying array of schools to choose from, where do you start?  Before you even start looking at schools, take a minute to decide what you want from your college experience.  Do you have a specific career or major in mind?  Several search sites, including College Board and CollegeXpress have search features that can help you find great schools.  Are you not quite sure what you want to study?  Be sure to choose a school with a variety of options that sound appealing.  Do you have specific ideas about the intellectual community, the location, or the type of town you want to live in?  These are all important factors to consider, and your school's college counselor should be able to help you identify options. Spend some time reflecting on what you want, write it down, and then begin your search.  In 9th -11th grade, you should be creating a "long list" of schools that appeal to you - try to capture all schools that seem interesting.  In the spring of your junior year, you will narrow this list down to the 4-8 schools you will actually apply to.

Next, for those of you in the throws of college applications - remember to breathe.  In the midst of what is likely a very busy senior year, you also need to take time to reflect on what's important to you.  With each application you complete, take a moment to think about why you are applying to this school.  I have worked with students who had schools on their list because their parents, teachers, or counselor insisted they apply, but they really had no interest in going there.  Obviously, if you are getting financial support from your parents (and I hope you are!) they need to be a partner in your decision.  But if you really are not interested in a particular school, it is in neither your interest nor theirs for you to put in the time and fork over the application fee.  Other students apply to prestigious institutions just to see if they can get in, although they don't really want to go there.  Why would you do that?  The time and effort you spend could be put into searching for and applying for scholarships for schools you DO want to attend. Remember, this is your experience, and you should think carefully about what you want before hitting the "submit" button.

Parents and guardians - you should read the two paragraphs above one more time.  Obviously, if you are funding this endeavor, you need to discuss with your student what is feasible and what you are and are not willing to finance, but beyond that, remember this is your child's life, and the decision is ultimately up to them.  If your college list and theirs are mutually exclusive, listen with an open mind to what your child is saying, why they are interested in those particular schools, and do some research together to see if there are some options that are acceptable to you, AND that your child can be excited about.  Enlist the services of a private college admissions advisor if you need to - the investment could pay off greatly in your child's future.

So in the excitement of the new year, take some time time to clarify your college goals, and then create a plan to achieve them, but above all, make sure the goals are your own.